The history of Tiger Moth A17-1

JENNY ELLIOT

ESTABLISHED in 1921, the Royal Australian Air Force is the second-oldest air force in the world.

By 1945, RAAF had over 182,000 personnel, 6,200 aircraft in 61 squadrons and was the fourth-largest air force in the world.

Over 215,000 men and women served between 1939-45, and 9,870 lost their lives.

On the outbreak of World War II, the Tiger Moth was selected as the basic trainer for the Empire Air Training Scheme.

The Tiger Moth is an iconic aircraft in the history of RAAF, with over one thousand of them used before, during and after WWII.

The first RAAF Tiger Moth aircraft, A17-1 was assigned to RAAF Station Maryborough from 6 February 1942 until it crashed in a forced landing on 21 February 1942 killing F/O J.F. Colthrup.

RAAF Station Maryborough operated Tiger Moth aircraft for training Wireless Air Gunners.

Over four thousand young men trained in Maryborough and for many the Tiger Moth was the first Aircraft that they had ever flown in. Many of these young men went onto fly in Lancasters over Europe.

The Maryborough Military Aviation Museum with funding from DVA Saluting Their Service grant have been able to purchase original components of a DH82 Tiger Moth aircraft to be re-assembled as a static exhibit to represent the first RAAF Tiger Moth aircraft, A17-1.

Developed from the DH 60T Gipsy Moth Trainer, the original DH 82 Tiger Moth, with an inverted 120 hp Gipsy III engine, first flew on 26 October 1931, and was subsequently adopted as the standard trainer of the RAF.

At the outbreak of World War II, the Tiger Moth II, or DH 82A, was selected as the basic trainer for the Empire Air Training Scheme and the first RAAF aircraft, A17-1, was delivered in May 1940.

In Australia, the local de Havilland Company built 1,085 Tiger Moths of which 732 were delivered to the RAAF and the remainder were shipped overseas to other training schools.

As well as acquiring a number of RAF-serialled Tiger Moths, the RAAF also impressed 21 civilian versions including some of the original DH 82 Tiger Moths with Gipsy III engines.

Altogether 861 Tiger Moths appeared on the RAAF register.

Although primarily employed as trainers, a few Tiger Moths were camouflaged and used operationally with army co-operation units in New Guinea, and they remained in RAAF service for almost 17 years.

Several were then transferred to the RAN after World War II.

Eventually, on 9 January 1957, the last 10 RAAF Tiger Moths were flown from Point Cook to Tocumwal for disposal.

de Havilland Tiger Moth A17-1 (82555 DHA1)

Fuselage built by DH Hatfield (UK), wings built in Aust. Engine: Gipsy Major II No 9021.

6-May-39 2 AD received DH Gipsy Major #9021.

8-May-39 Flight test at Mascot, pilot MAJ A Murray Jones

16-May-39 Received by RAAF at 2 AD, Richmond.

29-May-39 To 23 Sqn, Richmond.

14-Oct-39 Held 22 Sqn, temporarily allocated 23 Sqn.

19-Oct-39 Received 23 Sqn, ex 22 Sqn, Storage 9021. 5-Jan-40 To 2 EFTS, Archerfield.

7-Oct-40 To 4 EFTS Mascot. 28-May-41 Issued 1 AD ex 4 EFTS.

29-May-41 To 1 AD Laverton for installation of wireless telegraphy (W/T) equipment (with engine number 9026).

19-Jun-41 Allocated 1 WAGS ex 1 AD Service.

25-Jun-41 Issued 1 WAGS ex 1 AD (with Engine # 9026). 2

3-Jan-42 Allotted 3 WAGS ex 1 AD. 6-Feb-42 To 3 WAGS Maryborough ex 1 AD.

21-Feb-42 Crashed as Maryborough aerodrome. Trainee pilot FO JF Colthrup killed; instructor Sqn Ldr GA Richmond seriously injured.

24-Feb-42 H at 3 WAGS Field repairs impracticable.

30-Mar-42 Conversion to components at 3 WAGS Maryborough approved.